World Perspectives
feed-grains

Barley Market Tightens

The global barley market is only about one-eighth the size of the corn market but to major exporters (France, Russia, Australia, Canada) and to major importers (Middle East, China), it is a very important crop. Like other commodities, barley prices have been rising. Production fell 6.8 percent this year and global ending stocks are off nearly 22 percent from two years ago. The area harvested to the crop has fallen for two years in a row. Barley will become more important as a cover crop as agriculture seeks to control its emissions, but it is also a crop that thrives in a cooler climate, an environmental condition that is declining. It has substitutes as an animal feed but becomes more precious when turned into beer. The decline in average...

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livestock

Cattle on Feed for Nov 1, 2025

U.S. Cattle on Feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on November 1, 2025. The inventory was 2 percent below November 1, 2024.  Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.04 million head, 10 percent below 2024.  Marketings of fed cattle dur...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Taking Back Yesterday’s Losses

The CBOT was mostly higher on Tuesday with rumors of Chinese soybean buying and strong performance in equity markets boosting trader sentiment. Tuesday’s trade seemed to reflect the typical pre-Thanksgiving glide into low-volume, low-volatility trade that often dominates the day before an...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.235/bushel, down $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.3925/bushel, up $0.045 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.2475/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $320.4/short ton, up $2.1 fr...

livestock

Cattle on Feed for Nov 1, 2025

U.S. Cattle on Feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on November 1, 2025. The inventory was 2 percent below November 1, 2024.  Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.04 million head, 10 percent below 2024.  Marketings of fed cattle dur...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Taking Back Yesterday’s Losses

The CBOT was mostly higher on Tuesday with rumors of Chinese soybean buying and strong performance in equity markets boosting trader sentiment. Tuesday’s trade seemed to reflect the typical pre-Thanksgiving glide into low-volume, low-volatility trade that often dominates the day before an...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Dec 25 Corn closed at $4.235/bushel, down $0.0025 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.3925/bushel, up $0.045 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soybeans closed at $11.2475/bushel, up $0.015 from yesterday's close.  Jan 26 Soymeal closed at $320.4/short ton, up $2.1 fr...

livestock

Cattle on Feed Report Shows Record Low Placements for October

USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was released on Friday. Total cattle on feed amounted to 11.7 million head, 98 percent of last year.    Placements were the lowest for the month of October since the series began in 1996, dropping 10 percent on the year due to tight supply o...

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From WPI Consulting

Forecasting developments in production agriculture

On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.

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